(1EA) Tea with friends (by invitation)

[Doji Soon-ja]

Soon-ja had busied herself setting up a low table for tea. Fresh tatami mats had been laid on the floor, and a small table held a modest ikebana arrangement with tiny flower buds.

Once everything was in place, the elderly Crane sat on one of the tatami mats and awaited her guests.

[Kuni Takeshi]

He was not surprised that he had been invited, after all he was a relatively important person at Kitusuchi's court, but that the cranes would be so fast had surprised him.

Nevertheless, Takeshi accepted the invitation, after all, the wedding was about to take place as good as possible, and even though he was not a master of the court, he could make the greatest effort.

He entered the guest house and followed a servant to Soon-ja. When he saw the elderly lady crane, Takeshi bowed deeply. The elderly had to be respected.

"Greetings, my name is Kuni Takeshi, court physician and spiritual advisor to Hida Kitusuchi, son of Kuni Satoshi and Kuni Shinoa. With whom do I have the honor?" he introduced himself.

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Welcome, Kuni-sama," the Crane woman said in a high, reedy voice as she performed a seated bow. "This one is Doji Soon-ja, recently arrived from the court of Kyuden Doji. It's so kind of you to accept my invitation, won't you come sit down? We are expecting a couple more, before we begin."

[Daidoji Kaneko]

Kaneko also arrived and politely nodded to the other two as she found her place to sit.

[Hiruma Roger]

The man in the ivory mempo entered, bowing low toward his host and the other guests already assembled before taking his own place on the tatami mats.

[Kuni Takeshi]

"Of course, Doji-san" he said and sat down. When the other guest arrived he gave them the same seated bow as Soon-ja.

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Welcome, welcome!" the older Crane said cheerfully as her other guests arrived. "I am Doji Soon-ja, from Kyuden Doji," she said by way of introduction. "And this is Daidoji Kaneko, daughter of the Hiramachi daimyo, whose specialty is trade agreements."

The elderly woman began pouring tea for each of the guests. Despite her age and apparent infirmity, her hands were steady as she poured each cup.

"Now that we're all here, I wanted to thank you all very much for the generous hospitality the Crab have demonstrated by providing us this fine residence," Soon-ja said. "Blue Bird House should do very nicely for our stay here in Fire Shrimp Village. I hope we are not causing too much trouble for you all by staying here."

[Kuni Takeshi]

As the only representative from Fire Shrimp Village, Takeshi began to speak: "Not at all, Doji-san. We are honored to welcome you as guests to celebrate this wonderful event. I hope you will enjoy your stay here," he said with a slight bow at the end.

[Hiruma Roger]

Roger nods toward the other Crabs sentiment and in a deep gravelly voice with only the touch of a gaijin accent says, "Yes, it is our honor to host the Crane, And my honor to have been included in these celebrations as well. I was somewhat surprised to have been invited and thank you for the invitation."

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Ahh, do not look so surprised, Hiruma-san; you are a person of importance, after all," the Doji said firmly.

"I'm sure you must both share our feelings that the upcoming wedding is a joyous occasion for both our clans," Soon-ja continued in her reedy voice. "I hope you will agree that it provides a fine opportunity for Crab and Crane to become better friends in the future. That said, if there is anything we can do to be better guests, or to otherwise help ensure the festivities go well, please let us know and we will do whatever we can to help."

[Daidoji Kaneko]

Kaneko simply bowed politely in affirmation of what the elderly Crane had said.

[Hiruma Roger]

"As a guest myself, I think that would definitely be more in Kuni-samas bivouac then in mine I am afraid.'

[Doji Soon-ja]

Soon-ja nodded. "It's very much in our interest to make sure the wedding festivities go off without any problems," she added. "We're a bit...ahh...concerned...that perhaps some of the other guests might not feel the same way."

"Of course, I'm sure your clan has everything under control." She took a sip of tea.

[Kuni Takeshi]

"We put alot of effort in the preparations. But it's kind of you to offer you're support in these matters. It's also in our interest that this wedding will be as,... good as possible and everyone has a good time." he said friendly

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Of course, the preparation shows," Soon-ja said, nodding and smiling. "I'm sure all of us Crane will have a lovely time."

"If I understand correctly, you are both priests?" she inquired in a polite tone. "Will you both be involved in performing the wedding ceremonies?"

[Hiruma Roger]

Roger shakes his head, "My daughter is a cousin of the groom, I am merely here as her chaperone. "

[Kuni Takeshi]

"I am ready for the rituals, but as far as I know the ceremony is performed by a crane Shugenja. After all, Hida Yoji-san is included in the crane, so the blessing of a crane Shugenja would have priority."

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Yes, that seems fitting," Soon-ja agreed, nodding. "Still, it is good of you both to be here in support of Hida Yoji-san."

Roger shakes his head, "My daughter is a cousin of the groom, I am merely here as her chaperone. "

"You have a daughter, Hiruma-san? How lovely!" the Crane woman said. "May I ask, how old is she?"

[Hiruma Roger]

"Chisa-kun is Nine, her mother was a great hero of the crab and fell in battle with the enemy when she was two. "

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Really! Perhaps Hiruma-san would be kind enough to share the story of her mother's deeds with us?" Soon-ja asked as she refilled everyone's tea cups.

[Hiruma Roger]

"well..." he glances at the Kuni and the two Crane "According to the reports of the survivors of her squad they were about 12 hours south west of the imperial border...." He pauses giving his table mates one more chance to stop him before continuing.

[Daidoji Kaneko]

"That is quite the distance from the Wall. Do many excursions take people that far?" She asked with warmth and caring in her voice.

[Kuni Takeshi]

Takeshi looked at the Hiruma. "These kind of stories arent really a matter of,.... sophisticated discussions, Daidoji-san, Doji-san. I won't stop Hiruma-san from sharing his story, but don't say I didn't warn you if you still want to hear them." he said in an explicitly neutral tone of voice

[Hiruma Roger]

"That is quite the distance from the Wall. Do many excursions take people that far?" She asked with warmth and caring in her voice.

"It is rare for scouts to go deeper then three days past the wall, a week is as deep as I am aware most scouts will travel. With luck and proper care and a lot of jade, some food can last as much as a fortnight in the shadowlands, but I am unaware of anything that will stretch it farther. Intelligence on the enemy is vital to prepare for assaults and know where to deploy our limited resources. Without the actions of heroic Hiruma providing that intelligence the wall would have fallen long ago."

[Daidoji Kaneko]

"And was your wife's troop able to bring back such information?" She asked, trying to pose the question in a way which continued his story and honor his wife without the grizzly details.